FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2012
VOL. 20 NO. 210
BERLIN, N.H.
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Commission gets update Irene’s effects still a on NH Grand initiative problem for WMNF BY BARBARA TETREAULT THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
LANCASTER – New Hampshire Grand, the Coos County marketing initiative, will be making some adjustments as it looks to become more inclusive of businesses in the region. This spring, the initiative will launch an update of its web site with a slight reworking of its signature logo. Instead of ‘NH Grand – Grand Resorts, Grand Adventures’, the new logo will be ‘Experience NH’s Grand North’.
Cathy Conway, vice president of economic development for NCIC , and Scott Tranchemontagne of Montagne Communications, delivered a status report on the initiative at the monthly meeting of the Coos County commissioners Wednesday. Conway also discussed the changes in a follow-up phone interview. Conway said when Project Manager Samantha Kenney Maltais left last fall, the initiative decided to do some internal reconsee NH GRAND page 3
Berlin unemployment rate highest in state BY BARBARA TETREAULT THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
BERLIN – State unemployment figures released yesterday show the unemployment rate for Berlin is the highest in the state at 9.5 percent. The January figures show the state unemployment rate is 5.7. Coos County registered
a rate of 8.4 percent. The city’s unemployment rate is expected to get worse in the next two months as the impact of the Isaacson closing shows up in the statistics. “The full impact of the Isaacson closing hasn’t hit that rate yet,” noted N.H. Employ-
BY GAIL SCOTT THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
PINKHAM NOTCH—The White Mountain National Forest is still dealing with problems caused by Hurricane Irene in August, 2011, White Mountain National Forest Supervisor Tom Wagner, told the Mount Washington Commission at their meeting Friday at the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Joe Dodge Lodge. “Our big challenge since
Irene has been and still is working with the state on roads, bridges, and trail systems. During the winter we focused on winter systems like snowmobile trails. We got a lot of that taken care of before winter, but we have a lot facing us. We are working with the Department of Transportation on the Kanc (Kancamagus Highway). Funding has been approved but not authorized (for repairs),” he said. see WMNF page 17
Selectmen, police discuss revisiting noise ordinance BY MELISSA GRIMA
see UNEMPLOYMENT page 7
THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
GORHAM — At Monday night’s meeting of the board of selectmen an ordinance that limits the ability of trucks to quickly brake was brought up for discussion. Town Manager Robin Frost told the board that she and Chief of Police PJ Cyr had been contacted several times recently by a citizen who often
complains about trucks using their engine brakes, and some also idling at the Irving truck stop. While both conceded there is an ordinance prohibiting the use of so-called “jake brakes” as an effort to decrease highway noise, Cyr suggested the board may want to revisit the year-old ordinance in light of conversations he has had with truck drivers. He sugsee ORDINANCE page 9
Milan passes budget, says no to energy exemption BY MELISSA GRIMA THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
Thursday was moving day for the city housing and code enforcement offices which are moving are moving from the courthouse into the basement at city hall. John Morton and crew were hired to move the furniture to the new quarters. Outgoing Housing Coordinator Andre Caron, Building Inspector Joe Martin, and secretary Alison Finsen were busy unpacking equipment and moving furniture into place.(BARBARA TETREAULT PHOTO)
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MILAN — Voters in Milan took about two and half hours on Tuesday night to deal with their warrant. At the annual town meeting, on March 13, the crowd passed an annual budget of $805,651 and appropriated an additional $60,000 to be placed in a capital reserve fund for town highways and roads.
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While the voters were agreeable to the proposed budget, they debated the merits of a petitioned article seeking a property tax exemption for properties equipped with solar, wind and wood energy generation systems. The article sought an exemption solely for the value of the generation systems. In the course of the conversation, an attempt was see MILAN page 18
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